Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker successfully beat back a Democratic recall effort Tuesday night by assembling a coalition that closely resembled the electorate that propelled the Republican to victory 19 months ago. Though voters were split on Walker's signature achievement -- sharply reducing the ability of public employee unions to collectively bargain with the state -- Walker defeated Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett for the second time in as many years as voters said that elected officials should only be recalled for official misconduct.

The voters who chose to stick with Walker narrowly support President Obama, according to exit polls conducted Tuesday as Wisconsin voters turned out heavily in the third recall election of a sitting governor in U.S. history. Obama leads his Republican rival, Mitt Romney, 51 percent to 44 percent, exit polls show...

Despite the state's seemingly intense polarization, exit polls revealed that there are voters who support both Obama and Walker. Eighteen percent of those voters who said they would vote for Obama over Romney in November voted for Walker on Tuesday.